EU reiterates “full support for Spain’s constitutional order”

The European Commission has said it supports efforts to promote unity in Spain and again called for full respect for the constitutional order in that country.

“The Commission closely monitors the situation in Spain and reiterates its full respect for the Spanish constitutional order,” EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference.

According to him, the EC supports efforts to “overcome divisions and ensure unity and respect for the Spanish Constitution,” Reuters reported.

Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy asked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont to clarify whether he actually declared independence of the Spanish region. Rajoy pointed out that this was needed as the first step towards invoking of Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, El Pais is reporting. This article would allow Madrid to suspend Catalan lawmakers and sack the government in Catalonia, reports said on Wednesday.

Puigdemont said last night that he accepted the “mandate of the people” for secession from Spain, but asked the Catalan parliament to suspend the decision, in order to give more time for negotiations with Madrid.